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J-Men Forever, originally titled "The Secret World War", is a 1979 comedy film by Philip Proctor and Peter Bergman of the Firesign Theatre. The film is a pastiche using film clips from Republic serials, re-dubbed with comic dialog to tell a tale of world conquest by sex, drugs and rock and roll.
In the film, the Lightning Bug, embodied by garish villains from several serials, attempts to take over the world with rock and roll. He later adds sex and drugs when music alone doesn't work. He explains his changing appearance by saying, "I'm bringing all five of my costumes!" The Lightning Bug is voiced by legendary radio DJ M.G. Kelly (also called "Machine Gun" Kelly).
Peter Bergman plays The Chief and Philip Proctor plays Agent Barton. They appear in period-style black and white sequences that are used to frame the re-dubbed clips of car chases, explosions, flying men, sinister villains and villainesses, fights, and various other perils that are strung together in a somewhat incoherent plot.
Original Release
01/01/1979
US Release
01/01/1979
Cast
Name | Character |
---|
M.G. Kelly | Lightning Bug (voice) / Lightning Bug |
Jack Angel | (voice) |
Margolyn Curtis | (voice) |
Joan Gerber | (voice) |
Rod Gist | (voice) |
Michael C. Gwynne | (voice) |
Jock Livingston | (voice) |
John H. Mayer | (voice) (as John Mayer) |
Terence McGovern | (voice) (as Terry McGovern) |
Anne Randall | (voice) (as Anne Randall Stewart) |
Directors
Writers
Cast
Name | Character |
---|
M.G. Kelly | Lightning Bug (voice) / Lightning Bug |
Jack Angel | (voice) |
Margolyn Curtis | (voice) |
Joan Gerber | (voice) |
Rod Gist | (voice) |
Michael C. Gwynne | (voice) |
Jock Livingston | (voice) |
John H. Mayer | (voice) (as John Mayer) |
Terence McGovern | (voice) (as Terry McGovern) |
Anne Randall | (voice) (as Anne Randall Stewart) |
Richard E. Stewart | (voice) |
Phil Proctor | Barton / J-Man Barton |
Peter Bergman | The Chief |
Producers
Name | Role |
---|
William Howard | Executive Producer |
Willy Schopfer | Executive Producer |
Patrick Curtis | Producer |
Willy Schopfer | Producer |